Evaluation of the Relationship Between Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Ganglion Cell Complex Measured by Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucomatous and Normal Cases

Purpose: To compare the optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cells complex (GCC) thickness in primary open-angle glaucoma patients and normal patients. Material and Method: 274 eyes of 137 subjects were enrolled in the study: 86 glaucoma patients and 51 normal subjects as a control group. RNFL and GCC were measured by OCT. The average values of GCC and RNFL for each eye, the superior and inferior half measurements and the signal strength indicator (SSI) results were recorded. Results were statistically evaluated by correlation among the glaucoma patients and comparison between the normal and glaucoma groups. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups for age and gender distributions. The mean RNFL and GCC measurements were 97.03+/-13.85 p.m in glaucoma patients and 113.48+/-9.00 pm in normal subjects. Superior half measurements were 95.83+/-13.71 pm in glaucoma patients and 111.49+/-11.14 irn in normal subjects. Inferior half measurements were 98.44+/-15.63 pm in glaucoma patients and 115.50+/-9.25 pm in normal subjects. Both GCC and RNFL averages and superior and inferior measurements were found statistically significantly lower in glaucoma group. SSI results were also statistically significantly lower in the glaucoma group. SSI of RNFL results were statistically significantly lower compared to 551 of GCC. Discussion: The measurement of GCC by OCT was found as remarkable as the measurement of RNFL in distinguishing glaucoma patients from the normal subjects.